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Effective Interventions Unit: Advocacy for Drug Users: A Guide
Chapter 6: Planning and delivering advocacy services
As outlined in previous chapters, our evidence suggests that different service users, in different geographical locations, may need different types of advocacy services. In addition, at different stages of the treatment and care programme people will need to use advocacy services for different reasons.
This is a key issue to address when commissioning and planning.
DAATs who are planning to develop an advocacy service for drug users in their area may wish to consider ways to
ensure clients have access to an independent advocacy service. Plans to develop an advocacy service could benefit from
linking in to other local plans and initiatives.
A recent, important development has been the creation of the Advocacy Safeguards Agency, funded by the Scottish Executive, which supports and promotes the establishment of Advocacy Planning and Implementation Teams in each local authority and health board area in Scotland. The role of these teams is to identify local gaps in provision and plan the development of services. Each team produces a three year plan. Developing advocacy services for drug users should fit in within these local plans.
For information on your local team contact David Cameron at ASA on 0131 524 9380.
Information The
Advocacy Safeguard Agency (ASA) is funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department in furtherance of the Executive's commitment to strengthening
independent advocacy. ASA's purpose is to make sure that good quality
independent advocacy is available to anyone in Scotland who needs it. ASA's main functions 1. Development To assist health and local authority commissioners to develop independent advocacy across Scotland and across all health and social care groups. This includes identifying and addressing gaps in independent advocacy provision, informing commissioners of developments in national policy, legislation and best practice and producing guidance to assist the independent advocacy planning and implementation process. The development workers are able to provide a mediation role, between commissioners and the services they fund. 2. Evaluation To ensure that the principles, practice and outcomes of the work done by advocacy organisations are meeting the needs of the people who use them. This will be done by carrying out evaluations of advocacy organisations, identifying issues, and suggesting solutions to any difficulties that may be affecting their work. Valuation is also about acknowledging the good work of an organisation and about sharing and developing good practice. 3. Policy Development To develop policy and good practice in relation to independent advocacy across Scotland, and to inform relevant government policy and legislation. 4. Research To research matters relating to independent advocacy and in particular the effect of independent advocacy on the lives of the people of Scotland. For more information
contact: David Cameron, Tel: 0131 5249380, Email:ASAinfo@advocacysafeguards.org |
Specialist or generic services
Our findings (EIU Advocacy Survey 2003 and Focus Groups 2004) suggest that at different times drug users may need or want to use different types of advocacy services. DAATs and partner agencies may, therefore, want to ensure that a range of services is available for them to choose from. It is, therefore, important to ensure that drug users have access to both specialist and generic advocacy services.
Specialist advocacy services focus on the particular needs of drug users and their families. They are often attached to treatment and care services. On the one hand, clients may find it easier to identify with specialist services and often such services will have built up good networks and are well-informed about the general situation of treatment and care services. On the other hand, some clients reach a stage where they no longer want to be identified as 'drug users' and prefer to access services that are also used by other client groups.
Generic advocacy services in principle are open to the wider population for any advocacy issue (in practice most schemes have some criteria for access) and are usually independent. These services are often accessible, inclusive and make efficient use of resources, especially in rural areas. Some generic projects will have a person who specialises in providing advocacy to a specific group such as drug users. For some recovering drug users,
accessing generic advocacy services may symbolise moving on from specialist services.
Examples of specialist services AIMS (Advocacy) provides advocacy services to people who misuse or have misused drugs. More specifically, the service focuses on people experiencing difficulties engaging with existing services. Through a combination of group and individual advocacy, the service encourages clients to develop their own self-advocacy skills. For information contact: AIMS (Advocacy) 31 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats, Ayrshire, KA21 5DT. Tel 01294 608664 email
aims.advoc@ukonline.co.uk Advocacy North East employs a specialist advocacy worker to assist drug misusers across Aberdeenshire. The advocacy worker aims to help clients take control of their own lives and engage with agencies and communities to regain a contributory role in society. For information contact: Advocacy North East Tel 01467 622674 email,
advocacyne@btconnect.com. New address from 1 November 2004: Unit 2, South Road, Insch, AB52 6XF |
Assessing the need for advocacy
Before embarking on the expansion of existing advocacy services or the development of new services it is important to systematically measure
the extent and nature of the need for such services amongst drug users. This process will help to ensure that new or expanded services are designed to meet the specific needs for advocacy amongst drug users, that such services are accessible and well-integrated with other treatment care and support services. For more information
see 'Needs Assessment: A Practical Guide to Assessing Local Needs for Services for Drug Users' , EIU 2004.
When the information is available from the needs assessment, one of the key decisions is whether there should be an
independent advocacy service that is separate from other treatment and care services, or an
expansion of advocacy services already offered by treatment and care services (if there are any). It may be that a "mixed economy" is preferred solution given the different types of needs among drug users.
Key Questions to ask when planning advocacy services General  Is there a
need for advocacy for drug users in your area? Have you consulted with potential service users, their carers and local communities about the type and nature of advocacy the need and who they see as best placed to deliver?
 Have you clearly defined the
scope of the service? Have you considered the strengths and weaknesses of different types of advocacy?
 Who will form the
client base of the service? Would it focus on specific groups, e.g. people with co-occurring drug misuse and mental health problems, young drug users, women drug users? Or will it be open to all? Are there any groups of clients the service may not appeal to?
Will the service provide advocacy to families and carers? How would it deal with a situation where the needs of the family member differ from those of the drug user?  Have you considered how to safeguard
confidentiality, particularly in a rural or remote area?
Independent Advocacy Service  Is there already an
Independent Advocacy Service in your area (find out from ASA or SIAA)?
 If so, can the existing service be made more
accessible and effective for drug users? Will advocates need training and support to increase their knowledge and awareness about the problems of drug users? Advocates will also need to know where drug users can get the other kinds of support they might need.
 If not,
who can deliver the new service? Would it be delivered by paid advocates, volunteers?
 Where should it be based ? What geographical area will it cover?
 What links or contacts should the service have with treatment and care services?
Expansion of existing advocacy provision  How would the advocacy role be independent of the other aspects of a treatment and care service? How would potential conflicts of interest or staff loyalty be handled?
 How would staff involved in advocacy receive training for their advocacy role?
 What are the implications if a client requires advocacy with another service provider whose role may conflict with the main provider for that client?
 How will you maintain the distinction between advocacy and support work?
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Information The
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) is a registered charity funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department. The SIAA is a membership organisation for advocacy groups and other organisations with a commitment to
independent advocacy. The SIAA supports the advocacy movement by promoting the importance of diversity and high quality advocacy alongside strong principles and standards across Scotland. 1. Providing a strong national voice for independent advocacy organisations 2. Supporting the growth of existing independent advocacy organisations 3. Promoting the development of new independent organisations 4. Awareness raising and training. The SIAA provide training around the role of an advocate, the impact/value of advocacy and the appropriate expectations of an advocate to commissioners, service providers, users, carers and other professionals who come into contact with advocates. They also provide capacity building training for advocates. For more information contact Sheben Begum on 0131 455 8183 or e-mail
enquiry@siaa.org.uk |
Training needs
The process of developing advocacy services should also establish what the training needs are of those advocating on behalf of drug users. For a comprehensive list of what advocates need to know and suggestions on ways of training people to be advocates see
Advocacy 2000 'Key Ideas on Independent Advocacy' section 5, August 2000.
Example Borders Independent Advocacy Service do not find it helpful to provide intensive training to their volunteers out of context. Volunteers receive an initial induction course followed-up with on-going relevant training and support while they are working with their first client. For information contact Joan Lawson, Tel: 01573 225777 |
According to the previous distinctions there will be
two different categories of training needs.
The first category is of
independent advocates who may be advocating on behalf of a range of service users, including drug users. These service providers will need training around issues related to this specific client group including:
the process of treatment and care for drug users
the role of the relevant professionals and agencies
the range of services drug users need to access
awareness raising about the possibility and nature of relapse
The second category is an advocate in an established (non-advocacy) service. These service providers will need training around advocacy issues, including:
the aim of advocating on behalf of clients
specific issues around advocacy (e.g. the relationship between their views and the views of those they support)
the benefits, boundaries, risks and limits of advocacy
the role of the advocate.
Monitoring and evaluation of advocacy services
The aims of providing advocacy services to drug users are:
to promote their interest and help them make decisions regarding their own lives
to empower them to access the services they need, and make their voice heard and views known.
It is important to assess on a systematic basis, through regular monitoring and evaluation, whether these aims are being met. Outcome measures include:
Accessibility: are advocacy services provided at the time and place that best suit service users?
Empowerment: do service users feel empowered to represent themselves and to speak for themselves as a result of advocacy intervention?
Accessing services: do service users feel more knowledgeable about the options that are open them and how to access the range of available services?
For advice and information on planning, conducting and reporting an evaluation see EIU Evaluation Guides onwww.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/eiu/eiu.htm
summary |
It is important for service commissioners and planners to recognise the
diverse needs for advocacy services amongst drug users. The
extent and nature of the need for advocacy services should be measured before extending or developing new services. There may be a need to ensure that both
specialist and generic advocacy services are available. There is a need to think about and plan for
training and support for staff and volunteer advocates. Advocacy services should be
monitored and evaluated to ensure they deliver the service they were set up to provide.
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